One of my favorite things about being a blogger is that if I go MIA like I have a bit recently, you will not hesitate to come find me! Even if my hub finds it a bit funny to feel this attached to a stranger, thank you to all of you who emailed and even called our office recently to find out if everything was okay and that I was fine.

I am here to announce that I am just fine, hunky dory in fact and I have just been taking a little bloggy break mostly because I have been abroad, on vacation or on business trips. Oh and there is that whole summer thing happening around here that is making it kind of hard to get to the computer.... just saying.

I want you to know that I am back at it, back in the swing of things, back in the saddle, back on the horse, back at the reins, ready to roll, back on track.... any other good idioms to butcher?

But since it is summer and I am not quite ready to start writing much, I thought I would share the adventures of my last month with pictures and a few words, very few words. At least for today. Tomorrow, maybe a few more words or a story or two...

When we arrived in Paris, we bought these gorgeous Peonies to put in our hotel room. Every day we smelled their glorious scent each time we walked back into our room...

I spent a lot of time with this guy....

Started a little ritual each morning at the local cafe, drinking this and having the most amazing croissant and pan chocolat you could possible imagine....

As soon as it was appropriate we had some of this...

[only the French could make a simple ice cream cone look this beautiful!]

...I told him that he enjoyed his ice cream just a little too much :-)!

We walked to as many markets as we could, at least 3 different ones each day...

Each afternoon, we would take a rest on a bench.... or two in one of these.

When we got too tired to walk, each afternoon we would use this instead...

I envy how much you go to Paris!!! It's like another magnificent world to me-a world I would very much like to return to and very soon:) Thanks for the pictures-at least I can live vicariously through you. BTW, the pic. of Ben freaked me out. Last time I saw him, we were painting your kitchen cabinets in Oakland-he was still in a highchair. He is so grown up and handsome. Where has the time gone?

I love Paris. I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. My trip was whirlwind, so I look forward to the chance to take my time like you guys did. What a wonderful place! I hope it inspired lots of beautiful new designs!